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James M. Anderson, president and CEO of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, is stepping down at the end of the year.

Anderson said this is the right time for him personally and for the institution to take this step. He is leaving a medical center that has experienced amazing growth in patient volumes, research funding, employment and physical space during his 12-year tenure.

"I have had the great privilege of serving as CEO since November 1996," Anderson said to the hospital’s Board of Trustees during its annual retreat on Saturday. "My decision to step down now was made after considerable thought, as well as discussion with our board chairman, Tom Cody."

"We agreed this was the right time for Cincinnati Children’s to find a new leader for its next chapter in improving outcomes, patient experience and value."

Cody will head a search committee seeking Anderson’s successor. The committee will be made up of board members, employees and a community pediatrician. The committee will work with Heidrick & Struggles, a global executive search firm. The goal is to have a new CEO in place by Dec. 31.

"I am most grateful to Jim for his 12 years of service as CEO and, before that, four years as chairman of the Board," Cody said. "Under his leadership, our institution has soared … and there is still much more to be done to achieve our vision of being the leader in improving child health."

Under Anderson’s leadership, Cincinnati Children’s has been widely recognized as a global leader in improving health care quality and transparency. National Institutes of Health grants for research have grown from less than $20 million in fiscal 1996 to $101 million in fiscal 2008, ranking it second among all pediatric hospitals in NIH funding. For each year of the past decade, Cincinnati Children’s has seen a 15 percent growth in revenue and 750 net new employees. The total economic impact of Cincinnati Children’s on the greater Cincinnati community was $2.72 billion in fiscal 2007, a 78 percent increase over 2002.

"I have been challenged and inspired by our vision and truly honored to work with an extraordinary team of dedicated, innovative employees," Anderson said. "I am proud of what we have accomplished together as we pursued the Cincinnati Children’s vision of being the leader in improving child health."

Anderson describes his plans for the future as "fluid." He expects to remain active in the Cincinnati community and to spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is one of America’s top three children’s hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked for its expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery, according to the annual ranking of best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. One of the three largest children’s hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children’s is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

For its achievements in transforming healthcare, Cincinnati Children's is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize ® for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases, so that children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care leading to better outcomes.